There is no set formula for how a teacher
must calculate grades. The only true requirements are that the
grading system be fair and consistent. It is also useful to use
a system that allows everyone (parents, students, and teachers)
to know a student's current course grade quickly and easily.
One easy way to do this is to assign chapter (or unit) grades.
For example, there are 24 chapters in a textbook, and the
teacher issues a test for each chapter. This amounts to 12
chapters per semester, or 6 chapters per quarter. (The number
of chapters per quarter or semester is actually irrelevant.)
For each chapter (or unit), the teacher assigns point values to
various assignments.

The chapter (or unit) above totals 225
possible points. If a student earns 200 out of these 225
points, 200 is divided by 225 for a percentage chapter/unit
grade of 89%.

Some teachers may decide to create a sheet
with a table listing each assignment, its point value, the
points earned by the student, and the final percentage grade
earned by the student. These sheets are easy to create, and the
only writing required on each individual sheet is the student's
name and scores. Curving grades is as simple as changing the
total number of points possible to the total points earned by
the highest-scoring student.

Option 2: Print a generic grades form with the
names and points possible for each assignment. (a)
Complete the forms for the students. Return with chapter/unit
tests. (b) Have students complete the forms.
Students can complete the forms when they receive their graded
chapter/unit final tests.

The chapter/unit scores are averaged to
calculate each quarter grade.

While calculating all grades over a
quarter can be difficult, calculating grades by chapter/unit is
relatively simple. Students, parents, and teachers know a
student's exact score. Beginning with the very first
unit/chapter, students can see exactly where and how their
grades are high or low. Students are able to monitor their own
progress.

Teachers are not constantly asked, "What's my grade
in this class?" Everybody wins!

Note: Many schools and districts now use
online grading systems which allow parents and students to log
in and look up grades from home. However, many parents are
reluctant to embrace technology. Also, many homes lack internet
access. Paper grading sheets are not yet obsolete.

Another note: Printed grade sheets are a
useful tool at parent-teacher conferences.

"As you can see,
Sheila stumbled a bit during the first unit, failing to turn in
several assignments. But she did well on the test. For the
next unit, she completed all of her assignments and did even
better on the test."